On January 17, 1975, France officially promulgated the Veil law, legalizing abortion and ending clandestine procedures for thousands of women.

The bill was championed by Simone Veil, who endured intense parliamentary hostility and opposition from within her own party while serving as Health Minister under President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.

The article also notes historical calendar context around January 17, including a brief entry about Sainte-Roseline and other notable births on the date.

Today, January 17 is remembered as a major milestone for female emancipation and a defining moment for Simone Veil and women’s reproductive rights in the Republic.

The law began with a five-year probationary period, and abortion was fully decriminalized on December 31, 1979, after ongoing parliamentary debates and medical regulation.